$1.5
MILLION Grant for Youth Off The Streets Macquarie
Fields Community Youth Centre from NSW Government.
The new community youth facility
soon to be built in Macquarie Fields by Father
Chris Riley’s highly successful Youth
Off The Streets will receive a huge boost
with additional funding of $1.5 million if the
Iemma Government is re-elected, NSW Minister for
Housing Cherie Burton announced today.
Ms Burton said while visiting the local youth
centre with the Member for Bankstown, Tony Stewart
and the Labor Candidate for Macquarie Fields Andrew
McDonald that the new multipurpose youth and family
centre will give the current Youth Off The Streets
outreach service a wider and more effective presence.
Also present was a contingent from Macquarie Fields
area police, lead by Local Area Commander Stuart
Wilkins.
"Building a youth centre will go a long
way in not just breaking the cycle of crime and
anti-social behaviour but in fostering a sense
of confidence and self-worth," said
Father Chris Riley, CEO and Founder, Youth Off
The Streets.
“The Iemma Government recognises that there
has been a growth in community spirit at Macquarie
Fields, particularly since the disturbance two
years ago,” Ms Burton said.
“The strong support for this centre demonstrates
that the community has taken the lead in identifying
and responding to social challenges,” Ms
Burton continued.
An extension of the youth outreach work currently
being undertaken in Macquarie Fields by Youth
Off The Streets, the facility will provide youth
services such as educational programs and sporting
facilities along with treatment services including;
drug, alcohol and psychological counselling.
“In Macquarie Fields we have some really
amazing kids that have been neglected by society
for far too long. The time has come to give them
the resources they need,” stated Father
Riley.
Staffed by Youth Off The Streets, Father Riley
envisages the youth centre and its services will
have extended opening hours so it is available
to young people 7 days a week, at the times they
will most need it.
Youth Off The Streets began working in the Macquarie
Fields area after being invited by concerned members
of the community shortly after the February 25,
2005 riots. Since then, Youth Off The Streets
have been running a successful outreach program
that brings young members of the community together
with youth workers and volunteers to share a meal
and recreation every Tuesday and Thursday night.
About Youth Off The Streets:
Youth Off The Streets is a community
organisation working for young people who are
chronically homeless, drug dependent and recovering
from abuse. We support these young people as they
work to turn their lives around and overcome immense
personal traumas such as neglect and physical,
psychological and emotional abuse.
Since opening in 1991, Youth Off The Streets
has grown from a single food van delivering meals
to young homeless people on the streets of Kings
Cross to a major youth specific agency providing
a wide range of services offering a full continuum
of care.
It is our goal that these young people will leave
our care drug free, with a high school education,
living skills and a full or part time job in hand.
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